ARARAT Rural City has experienced a rise in the number of cats being adopted from the city’s pound. Ararat Rural City Council reviews its domestic animal management plan annually, and presented the latest findings at a meeting on Tuesday night. The results showed 43 cats were adopted from the pound in 2017-18, up from 29 the previous financial year. It was the largest number of adoptions in the past four years. Dog adoptions from the pound were down from 43 in 2016-17 to 31 last financial year. However 114 dogs were reclaimed last year, the highest number since 2014-15. More than 2270 dogs were registered in the rural city last year, and 674 cats. Council officer Matthew Wood said the results showed council’s adoption program had been reasonably successful. “Council should be applauded for the position it took in offering subsidised adoptions directly from the pound,” he said. “We are continuing to address the feral cat problem in the community. We offer traps free of charge to trap feral cats. Feral cats that are trapped are euthanased, and any domestic cats we try to find their owners. Otherwise they are given to adoption agencies, or adopted directly from the pound. “We had 43 cats adopted directly from the pound last year, and 42 were sent to a rescue organisation for a second chance at life. “The various strategies I believe are working.” The council euthanased two dogs in 2017-18 for aggressive behavior towards humans or animals.

Ararat Rural City pet registrations, adoptions up

ARARAT Rural City has experienced a rise in the number of cats being adopted from the city’s pound.

Ararat Rural City Council reviews its domestic animal management plan annually, and presented the latest findings at a meeting on Tuesday night.

The results showed 43 cats were adopted from the pound in 2017-18, up from 29 the previous financial year. It was the largest number of adoptions in the past four years.

Dog adoptions from the pound were down from 43 in 2016-17 to 31 last financial year. However 114 dogs were reclaimed last year, the highest number since 2014-15.

More than 2270 dogs were registered in the rural city last year, and 674 cats.

Council officer Matthew Wood said the results showed council’s adoption program had been reasonably successful.

“Council should be applauded for the position it took in offering subsidised adoptions directly from the pound,” he said.

“We are continuing to address the feral cat problem in the community. We offer traps free of charge to trap feral cats. Feral cats that are trapped are euthanased, and any domestic cats we try to find their owners. Otherwise they are given to adoption agencies, or adopted directly from the pound.

“We had 43 cats adopted directly from the pound last year, and 42 were sent to a rescue organisation for a second chance at life.

“The various strategies I believe are working.”

The council euthanased two dogs in 2017-18 for aggressive behavior towards humans or animals.